A/N: I don't own The Hunger Games
This is my first Hunger Games fic so please be kind. This is a A/U story and the characters are probably gonna be a little OOC. I'm trying my best to keep them as close to the originals as possible. In this story Madge and Prim are still alive, Gale and Katniss are still friends. Katniss and Peeta are together because i like them as a couple. Gale and Madge are together because I just feel like there could have been something between them in the books. In this story Effie and Haymitch have some unresolved feelings towards each other. Also I picture Haymitch in my mind as looking like Jeffery Dean Morgan but drunk. Hopefully you guys enjoy this and please let me know what you think. I'm always open to constructive criticism.
Chapter 1
It has been seven years since Effie has last stood on this platform. So much has happened in that short span of time. The hunger games have been eradicated along with the capitol. The new democratic government was slowly but surely coming along from the one time dictatorship that Panem had been ruled by for 75 long years.
President Paylor and her newly appointed cabinet has gone about bringing back a form of government that had been popular in the previous century. The citizens of Panem are hesitantly hopeful this time it will stick and no power hungry snakes like Snow will come along to ruin this new beginning for the fledgling nation.
Effie nervously smooths the invisible wrinkles from her simple pale pink cotton dress. The one time district 12 escort has been asked to plan her only surviving tributes Katniss and Peeta's wedding. The perpetually bubbly woman couldn't pass up the chance of using her talents on such a happy occasion.
Effie tries not to fidget because it's very unladylike to do so but she can't help feeling exposed in her plain outfit. Sweet Peeta had politely asked that Effie should dress a little more conservatively since most people in the new district 12 still held grudges against anything remotely connected to the capitol.
Effie has readily complied because she truly did not want to offend anyone during her stay with Katniss and Peeta. The young couple are being so welcoming and kind to their former escort which makes Effie want to do whatever it is in her power to accommodate them, even if it means pushing herself outside of her comfort zone.
Effie looks around the surprisingly busy depot hoping that it will be Peeta and not Haymitch picking her up. She's not quite sure where she stands with the drunken former victor. For reasons still unknown to her Haymitch had rescued her from the evil clutches of the capitol. This one act has left Effie confused and unable to reconcile her feelings towards the man.
Haymitch swears the next time katniss asks for a favor he'll be sober enough to tell her no. Now he's stuck picking up the one person he never thought would cross paths with him again. For reasons he rather drink away than to think on, Haymitch had rescued the annoyingly perky female from Snow's torturous prison.
Now Haymitch will have to come face to face with the one woman that can get under his skin. The inebriated war vet is seriously close to just leaving her here and heading back to his house and drinking himself into oblivion. Of course Katniss and Peeta have taken it upon themselves to cut his access to liquor in half.
Haymitch barely has enough to keep the shakes from wreaking havoc on his middle aged body. He wasn't a young buck anymore and at 47 he was really starting to feel the effects of alcohol withdrawals. Haymitch scans the train depot and nowhere in sight is a pink wig and bedazzled dress.
Haymitch thinks that for someone that is always on top of others about lateness Effie sure is taking her sweet time. He continues to glance around at all the people coming and going and notices a petite caramel haired beauty staring at him. It takes him a moment to realize that this is Effie.
Haymitch tries to remember just how much white liquor he consumed this afternoon because his eyes must be playing tricks on him. She's shorter than he remembers and her natural hair is a rich caramel hue that is clasped into a low side pony with the glossy curls tumbling over her right shoulder.
Effie's face is scrubbed clean of the heavy white makeup she favors. Instead her sun kissed skin glows softly in the noon day light and the closer her walks to her Haymitch notices a sprinkling of freckles across her delicate nose. Effie's lips are pouty and a pretty natural shade of glossy pink and not the horrible metallic crayon colors he remembers. Her top lip is slightly larger than the bottom making her look so much younger than he thought she was.
When he and his team busted Effie out of prison he hadn't really had time to take in her appearance. With all the adrenalin pumping through him everything seemed to pass by in a blur. After returning to district 13 Effie was whisked away to the infirmary and Haymitch went on back to fighting in the rebellion. When the war ended he learned that Effie relocated to district 2 and that was the last he heard of her until now.
Haymitch continues to star at this new version of Effie and is at a loss for words. Effie's eyes really have Haymitch thrown for a loop. The rich honey irises seem to captivate him as she slowly bats her thick dark lashes. Before Haymitch can think he grabs Effie and hugs her soft curvy frame tight to his body. The short brunette squeaks in surprise as she is lifted off her six inch nude colored stilettos with the red bottoms.
"Haymitch!" Effie tries to escape his strong grasp but her efforts are pointless. Haymitch pulls away slightly and they are suddenly nose to nose. His molten mercury gaze has left her speechless at the moment. Haymitch is equally transfixed as her thick lashes kiss the tops of her smooth cheeks as she blinks.
Haymitch swallows roughly as he realizes just how much he has missed this annoying woman even if he won't admit it out loud. Time seems to be suspended between the two. Effie takes in all of his features just as she had done on the morning he rescued her from the depths of Snow's presidential home.
His disheveled salt and pepper hair falls carelessly into his bloodshot grey eyes and the permanent five o'clock shadow adoring his cheeks adds to his roguish appearance. Despite his slovenly ways there is still something appealing about Haymitch Abernathy. There is still a fire burning in him since his days as a tribute in the hunger games. A fire that threatens to burn white hot and turn everything it touches to ash. The fire sends a thrill up Effie's spine.
An awkward throat clearing burst their private bubble leaving both of them feeling as if they have missed something in the intense moment they shared. "Peeta, how wonderful to see you again." Effie gushes excitedly and pulls away from Haymitch's firm hold. She brushes the invisible dirt from her pretty pink dress and smiles widely.
"Wow…Effie you look great. Doesn't she look great, Haymitch?" Peeta can't help but to smirk at Haymitch's deep scowl.
"I guess…she looks alright kid." Haymitch continues to scowl deeply as Peeta and Effie enthusiastically talk about the upcoming nuptials.
Effie tries not to let Haymitch's comment get to her. If she's really honest with herself that is the closest to a compliment she'll ever get from him.
"It was getting late and I wanted to make sure your train arrived on time." Peeta smiles widely as Haymitch glares daggers at the boy. Peeta is just too likable for his own good.
"Oh yes it did but Mr. Abernathy here didn't seem to care for my schedule." Effie beams a gleaming white smile while she tries to calm her racing heart.
"Well I'm on my way to the bakery now. Katniss is at the house. She's waiting for you two." Peeta smirks knowingly at his former mentor. The young man knew that Haymitch has always harbored some unrequited feelings for Effie Trinket.
"Yeah…right. See you later kid." Haymitch growls lowly as Peeta slightly limps away towards the town center where his bakery is located.
Haymitch snatches the stylish overnight bag from the ground and turns towards his beat up old pick up. He knew he should have just let that kid die in the arena but no Katniss had a soft spot for the boy with the bread.
"Wait…what about the rest of my luggage?" Effie's voice still has a tinge of a capitol accent and it makes Haymitch want to reach for a bottle.
Effie gestures behind her and Haymitch swears that someone has it out for him. "Seriously…woman! why do you need all that crap?" Haymitch's baritone booms across the open space of the train depot.
Effie just rolls her honey doe eyes at Haymitch. She is quite used to his temper tantrums. "A lady always needs options even if they are plain like this." She quips sweetly while gesturing to her simple knee length sheath.
Haymitch swallows roughly because he is loath to admit just how good she looks sans the capitol crap she always wears. Effie grins sweetly as Haymitch groans harshly while scooping up the rest of her luggage and unceremoniously drops them in the bed of his old red pick-up.
"Hurry up sweetheart. We don't got all day." Haymitch slaps Effie on the rear as he passes by her while she tries to attempt to get in the massive truck without scuffing her precious heels.
Effie yelps in surprise then glares at the insufferable man climbing into the driver's side. "How dare you!" Effie hisses lowly trying not to make a scene in public.
"Oh don't act like you didn't enjoy it Darlin'." Haymitch smirks at the serious pout Effie tries to pass off as an intimidating glare.
"Hmmph…" Effie huffs and folds her delicate arms across her chest. She refuses to give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin.
Haymitch chuckles lowly while he starts the old truck and after a few spluttering moments the ancient vehicle sputters to life and they make their way slowly down the newly paved streets of the growing town. Effie chooses to ignore Haymitch and puts her attention on her surroundings. The weather is warm and spring like and the town is no longer covered in coal dust as she remembers.
New buildings are going up and the once drab coal mining district is flush with new life. People are slowly making their way back and hoping to find a better life than the one they left behind. Effie sighs and watches as the town centers disappears into a quiet neighborhood with modest houses in different states of completion.
Haymitch drives right into a deep pot hole sending an unbuckled Effie bumping right into his side. He just flashes her a lopsided smirk as she tries to right herself. He snakes his right arm around her small waist and anchors her to his side. For some reason Haymitch just wants to irritate her and get a rise out of the pretty caramel haired capitol lady.
Effie tries to wiggle her way over to the other side of the bench seat but is unsuccessful. Deep down inside Effie really doesn't mind being pressed so closely to Haymitch's warmth. Even if she will vehemently deny it out loud. He might not be the fittest or the youngest man she knows but his arms are still quite strong and lovely.
"I hate you." Effie says plainly and tries to ignore the irritatingly handsome smirk that plays on Haymitch's lips.
"I'm not exactly so fond of you either sweetheart." Haymitch's gravelly voice causes Effie's stomach to flip deliciously. She almost forgot how despite his drunken, sloppy demeanor he could always make her want to be around him.
Haymitch is almost sad as Katniss and Peeta's home comes into view. He was enjoying his time with Effie and the feel of her soft curves adds to his desire to ruffle her feathers. Haymitch turns his attention back to the road and abruptly parks his rusted old truck in Katniss's drive way.
Katniss hears the familiar clunking sound of Haymitch's red truck and waits on the porch for Effie Trinket. Katiniss wasn't sure about having Effie here but it's hard for her to say no to Peeta. Her fiancé made a point of telling her that with Effie here she wouldn't have to deal with the wedding planning.
To Katniss this was the deciding factor in inviting Effie to the new district 12. Katniss would rather just go to the justice building and sign some papers but Peeta wants a real wedding and she will do anything to make him happy. He deserves at least that much.
Katniss holds in her laughter as Effie leaps out of Haymitch's truck as ladylike as she can manage. "Well…I never…" If looks could kill Haymitch would be dead a thousand times over.
"Oh Darlin' if you did you wouldn't be so wound tight." Haymitch's laughter and fire in his grey eyes is something Katniss rarely gets to see. Maybe inviting Effie wasn't a bad idea after all.
Effie schools her angry face into the cool calm bubbly mask she is known for. "Katniss…I'm so hap, hap, happy to be here!" Effie's enthusiasm is almost contagious if it weren't so manic.
Haymitch tosses Effie's luggage onto Katniss's front lawn before barking a harsh goodbye. He leaves his truck in her drive as he trudges back to his disorderly home next door. Effie brushes off Haymitch's surly attitude and eagerly dives into all the details of the wedding as Katniss helps Effie with her luggage.
Katniss tunes out Effie's capitol accented voice and shows her about her small house she shares with Peeta. The sooner the wedding is over with the sooner Katniss can go back to feeling a semblance of normalcy in her life. The grey eyed beauty feels more comfortable out of the spotlight.
Effie thanks Katniss for her hospitality and heads to the guest room to get ready for tonight's family dinner. Effie is a little apprehensive because Haymitch will no doubt be in attendance. At least Madge and Prim will also be coming tonight. Effie found the two blonds to be much more affable company than Katniss and Haymitch.
Haymitch barricades himself in his garage. Since he can't drink and his geese are already taken care of for the day, Haymitch takes out his frustrations on a large piece of wood. For the past year he has been keeping his mind clear from his darkest thoughts by carving intricate pieces of wooden furniture.
Each piece is another step into taming the demons that plague his every waking moment. Right now his most torturous demon is primping herself in Katniss's guest room. Haymitch thought he put her in a box and locked her away in the deepest corner of his broken heart.
But she is here taunting him mercilessly because he can never be good enough for someone like her. Haymitch is too old and too broken to ever be what Effie Trinket needs. He'll enjoy her presence while he can because in a few short weeks she'll disappear just as quickly as she showed up. He rescued her for a reason but hardly admits to himself let alone any living soul that a world without Effie is world he doesn't want to be a part of.
A/N: Please Review. Next up some more interactions between Effie and Haymitch. Also the Hawthorne clan arrives along with Prim.
